Used Hyundai i20 2020-present reliability
Category: Small car
The Hyundai i20 is a good small car and an interesting used buy, even though it fails to lead its class in any area.
What should I look for in a used Hyundai i20 hatchback?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
As with all cars, check for bodywork damage and kerbing on the wheels, and inspect the interior for signs of wear and tear. Every Hyundai comes with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty and five years of UK roadside assistance – you'll get what's remaining of that with a used i20 of this generation.
When safety experts Euro NCAP tested the i20 in 2021, it was awarded four stars out of five. Looking deeper into the results, the model did well at keeping child occupants safe but didn’t score particularly well when it comes to adults in the front, especially in the far-side excursion test.
The i20 comes with plenty of standard-from-new safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with forward pedestrian monitoring, driver attention alert, eCall emergency assistance and lane-departure assistance. Top-spec Ulimate trim also adds blind-spot monitoring and cyclist detection for the AEB.
What are the most common problems with a used Hyundai i20 hatchback?
As of writing, there are just two recall against the i20. The first (relating to 1879 models from the year 2020) states that the vehicle VIN information might not be registered correctly within the eCall unit. A reset and update of the unit will fix this problem and your local Hyundai dealer should be able to sort this (at no cost to you) if your vehicle is involved in the recall.
The second (relating to 770 cars from 2023 and 2024) describes a potential gearbox issue that could render the car undriveable. A software update is said to fix the issue.
Click here for more information. Contact your local Hyundai dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used Hyundai i20 hatchback reliable?
We consider the i20 to be a reliable car because it finished in fourth place out of 24 cars in the small car class in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. It did so with a great score of 98.1%. Reader feedback has been positive on the i20 and the other Hyundai models we've put through our reliability survey have all performed well.
Hyundai as a car brand ranked 10th out of 31 manufacturers. Its overall reliability score of 93.5% is confidence-inspiring and it betters the scores of many rival car makers, such as Ford, Mazda and Skoda. Mind you, brands like Mini and Toyota scored even higher.
Used Hyundai i20: owners' reliability data
As part of our Reliability Survey, What Car? readers said that i20 models are generally reliable (with a few exceptions).
Most owners reported smooth and trouble-free ownership experiences, particularly praising the longevity and performance of the engine. Some minor issues such as occasional infotainment glitches and sensor malfunctions have been reported but they were typically resolved quickly with a system reset or minor repairs.
However, a few readers highlighted more significant problems, including intermittent stalling and unexpected warning lights. These issues often required visits to the dealership, where service experiences varied. Some customers reported efficient and friendly service, with dealerships addressing problems promptly and under warranty. Others, though, faced longer wait times and higher-than-expected repair costs.
